Attack the Real Causes of L.A. Air Pollution

Re “EPA Gets Tough on Areas With Poor Air Quality,” April 16: I recently had a smog check for my 1994 automobile, in order to renew the license tags. The measured pollution was negligible. Autos 10 years old or less must be totally abused to fail the smog check, as they have efficient-burning engines in addition to catalytic converters. Since most autos on our highways are 10 years old or less, they are not the cause of L.A. Basin smog. The real polluters are stationary, such as chemical plants, refineries and manufacturing plants that use oil as their energy source.

We can beat the smog problem only if businesses are mandated to burn natural gas at all times instead of just during third-stage smog alerts. If Pittsburgh, Pa., cleaned up its act more than 40 years ago, Los Angeles should be able to do it today.

Paul Bernstein

Beverly Hills